Cow treating device

ABSTRACT

A device for applying liquid to a cow&#39;&#39;s udder including a narrow passageway through which the cow can pass in one direction, a nozzle in the passageway positioned so that the cow must step over it, and a photo-electric cell arranged to actuate one of two servomechanisms. The servomechanisms in turn operate valve means carrying high pressure liquid through conduit means to the nozzle and the cell is positioned so that the light beam is broken when the cow&#39;&#39;s udder is above the nozzle. Timing devices are actuated by the photoelectric cell and are connected to the first servomechanism to time the period that the valve means is open, and are also connected to the second servomechanism to time the period before the valve means can be reopened to avoid accidental actuation, is disclosed.

I United States Patent 1 1 1 3,763,828

Tighe 5] .Oct. 9, 1973 COW TREATING DEVICE Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene 75 Inventor: Peter R. Tighe, Oakland, Calif. Examlinerflames clerwwky Attorney-Harms Z1mmerman [73] Assignee: Dari-Spray Products,lnc., San

H Leandro, Calif. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1971 A device for applying liquid to a cows udder includ- [211 App] No 206 624 ing a narrow passageway through which the cow can pass in one direction, a nozzle in the passageway positioned so that the cow must step over it, and a photo- [52] US. Cl. 119/158, 239/70 electric cell arranged to actuate one of two servo- [51] Int. Cl. A0111 29/00 mechanisms. The servomechanisms in turn operate [58] Field of Search 119/ 14.03, 156, 158, valve means carrying high pressure liquid through 1 [9/159; 239/70; 137/614 conduit means to the nozzle and the cell is positioned so that the light beam is broken when the cows udder [56] References Cited is above the nozzle. Timing devices are actuated by UNITED STATES PATENTS the photoelectric cell and are connected to the first 3183,890 5/1965 Albers 119/159 1 serwmechmism time the Peri that the valve 3:554'166 H1971 Belden 9/59 means is open, and are also connected to the second 3,370,571 2/1968 Knapp 119/159 Servomeeheniem to time the Period before the valve 3,236,208 2/1966 Schilling et a1. 119/14.03 x means can be reopened to avoid accidental actuation, 3,163,149 12/1964 119/158 X is disclosed. 3,246,631 4/1966 Holm ll9/14.03 2,238,872 4/1941 Mather et al. 119/159 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 2,600,602 6/1952 Abildgaard 119/159 l cow TREATING DEVICE BACKGROUND In the modern dairy industry it is frequently necessary to apply liquids to cows udders, both to conform to sanitary regulations and to maintain the udders in a comfortable and healthy condition. Manual application of liquids to cows udders is a difficult, time-consuming and expensive job, particularly when dealing with large herds.

To avoid manual application, automatic devices have been proposed which range from continuous sprays to those actuated by means such as photoelectric cells. Continuously operating sprays are wasteful and those actuated by photoelectric cells are deficient because the random movements of cows cause them to miss spraying the udder at times or to be actuated by legs or tails breaking the light beam and actuating the spray at the wrong time.

THE INVENTION This invention is a combination device that avoids or greatly mitigates the problems of prior automatic sprays for cows udders. The combination of this invention includes a narrow passageway through which a cow can walk in only one direction, with a spray nozzle positioned in the passageway so that a cow walking through it must step over the nozzle. A means capable of sensing the presence of a cow, typically a photoelectric cell directed across the passageway, is positioned tosense when the cow is positioned in the passageway with its udder above the nozzle.

The sensing means actuates a servomechanism which in turn operates a valve that passes the liquid to be applied to the udder to the spray nozzle. When a photoelectric cell used alone actuates a valve, the spray cycle is generally too long, i.e., the spray continues as long as the cow interrupts the light beam. Even when timing devices are employed, random movements of the cow may cause the spray to be actuated, for example, if the cows tail breaks the beam or if the cow momentarily steps backwards after passing through it.

To avoid such effects, the device of this invention employs two timing devices. The first timing device is actuated simultaneously with the valve or is actuated by the sensing means and it, in turn, actuates the valve. In any event, it holds the valve open for only a first predetermined time period, for example, from one to three seconds. When the first timer shuts the valve, the second timer is actuated and it holds the valve or a second valve closed, regardless of the condition of the sensing means, for a second predetermined period of time which is of sufficient duration to insure that the cow has entirely cleared the sensing means and is far enough past it so that a random movement of its tail will not actuate the valve operating mechanism. A period of three to five seconds is usually adequate.

The other elements of the device of this invention are conventional. They include a high pressure source of liquid to be applied and the usual fluid transporting means, pressure controlling means, gauges, pipes and other equipment ordinarily employed.

Although any adequate sensing means may be used to sense the position of the cow, a photoelectric cell is preferred because it is reliable, easy to use, inexpensive and readily available. A photoelectric cell should be positioned to intercept a beam shining across the passageway and between 24 inches and 52 inches above the grade of the floor on which the cows walk. Such positioning of the photoelectric cell insures that the cows face will break the beam thereby insuring that the spray will begin reliably in the vicinity of the udder.

The spray nozzle should be positioned on the floor of the passageway a sufficient distance from the photoelectric cell so that it will start spraying the underside of the cow about a foot in front of the udder and will continue to spray until the cows udder has passed completely over it. The nozzle may be flush with the floor or it may protrude above the floor to encourage the cow to step over it. Of course, any number of nozzles may be used and they may spray in any appropriate pattern for the character of the liquid being applied and the function to be accomplished by it. The nozzles may be set in a grating over a trough to collect liquid that drains back to the floor from the udder.

Any suitable means for supplying liquid under pressure may be employed. For a large capacity of liquid under continuous and even pressure, a pressure vessel containing the liquid beneath an air space may be employed. An air compressor, suitably controlled, may be connected to supply air under the desired pressure to the air space. Other means for supplying liquid under pressure may be employed, such as a continuously operating pump controlled at a given outlet pressure and arranged to recycle liquid to suction, or a liquid pump that supplies a capacity vessel containing a fixed amount of air that may be compressed by filling the vessel with liquid to reduce the air volume.

The valve for controlling the supply of liquid to the nozzle is typically a solenoid-operated valve which is actuated by signals coming from the first and/or second timing devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a device embodying this invention illustrating the functional relationship of various elements to each other.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a device embodying this invention in operation.

In FIG. 1 a photoelectric cell 10 is positioned to be maintained inoperative by having a light beam 11 shining into it. When the beam 11 is interrupted by an opaque object such as cow [2 the cell 10 sends a signal via conductor 13 to timing device 14 which causes means 15 to operate servomechanism 16 for a predetermined period of time thereby opening valve 17. When valve 17 is open liquid at high pressure flows through pipe 18 and sprays from nozzle 19. When the predetermined time period has elapsed the valve 17 is closed and spray through nozzle 19 stops until valve 17 is again opened.

When timer 14 operates to close valve 17 it, via electrical link 20, actuates timer 2] which in turn operates through means 22 to operate servomechanism 23 formed by rails 30 through which a cow 12 may pass in one direction only. As the cow passes through the passageway it breaks the light beam that maintains cell inoperative, and as a result a signal passes through conductor 13 to first timer 14 which causes valve 17 to open for a first predetermined time period. Pipe 18 contains liquid under pressure supplied from vessel 31 which is maintained under controlled pressure by conventional means not illustrated. When the first time period has elapsed timer l4 closes valve 17 and actuates second timer as explained with reference to FIG. 1.

From the foregoing description it is evident that many equivalent devices falling within the scope of this invention may be made. Various equivalent sensing or operating means may be substituted for those disclosed without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for applying a liquid spray to a cow's udder which comprises in combination:

A. a narrow passageway through which a cow may walk in one direction,

B. conduit means having at one end a spray nozzle in the passageway positioned so that a cow must step over it to walk through the passageway.

C. sensing means capable of sensing a specific position of a cow in the passageway,

D. first timing means connected to be actuated by the sensing means and connected to actuate a first servomechanism which operates valve means connected to said conduit means, to open it for a predetermined time,

E. second timing means actuated by the action of the first timing means to close the valve means, the sec ond timing means connected to actuate a second servomechanism which operates the valve means to close it for a predetermined time,

F. a high pressure source of said liquid connected to the other end of said conduit means to supply said liquid to said nozzle by passing through the valve means, and

G. said sensing means positioned along the passageway to actuate the first timing means when the cow's udder is immediately above the nozzle.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensing means is a photoelectric cell.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the cell is positioned from about 24v inches to about 52 inches above the grade of said passageway on which the cow is walking.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said first predetermined time is from about one to about three seconds.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said second predetermined time period is from about three to five seconds.

6. The device of claim 1, said valve means comprising a plurality of valves, and wherein said first servomechanism operates a first one of said valves and said second servomechanism operates a second one of said valves. 

1. A device for applying a liquid spray to a cow''s udder which comprises in combination: A. a narrow passageway through which a cow may walk in one direction, B. conduit means having at one end a spray nozzle in the passageway positioned so that a cow must step over it to walk through the passageway. C. sensing means capable of sensing a specific position of a cow in the passageway, D. first timing means connected to be actuated by the sensing means and connected to actuate a first servomechanism which operates valve means connected to said conduit means, to open it for a predetermined time, E. second timing means actuated by the action of the first timing means to close the valve means, the second timing means connected to actuate a second servomechanism which operates the valve means to close it for a predetermined time, F. a high pressure source of said liquid connected to the other end of said conduit means to supply said liquid to said nozzle by passing through the valve means, and G. said sensing means positioned along the passageway to actuate the first timing means when the cow''s udder is immediately above the nozzle.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensing means is a photoelectric cell.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the cell is positioned from about 24 inches to about 52 inches above the grade of said passageway on which the cow is walking.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said first predetermined time is from about one to about three seconds.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said second predetermined time period is from about three to five seconds.
 6. The device of claim 1, said valve means comprising a plurality of valves, and wherein said first servomechanism operates a first one of said valves and said second servomechanism operates a second one of said valves. 